How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

It’s safe to say that, after a week of traversing through the Alaskan wilderness, that my life will never be the same. Trees canvassing mountains in an endless blanket of green. Jagged snowcapped peaks reaching hard for the very sky from where bald eagles scoured the land for sustenance. Eighteen-hour-long days allow for the moon to show face for but just a few short hours. Suffice to say that Alaska is overwhelming magnificence.

With that also comes an undeniable ruggedness. General travel and the elements can take its toll on a traveler. Over the years, I’ve come to find that adventuring does not need to compromise safety and health, even for those of us who are a little more challenged. Below are a few of our favorite tips to keep you feeling your best while on the move.

Drink more water than you think you need. And drink more. Travel can rapidly dehydrate the body, especially when traveling by plane. Opt for water whenever you can, and try to pass on the sugary drinks while limiting your coffee intake. Keep a refillable water bottle on hand. For an extra boost, plop an Airborne tablet into a glass for an extra dose of vitamins.

Stretch your body. This is an important one for me — my hips and shoulders grow outrageously tight when traveling. Hiking, lugging baggage, hotel beds, or long hours in the car, train or plane can make for all kinds of body stiffness. Be sure you are taking the time to stretch throughout the day. I like to start my day by stretching for five minutes, and then closing down my day with a ten-minute stretch/yoga session.

Downsize your toiletry bag. When you are traveling or camping outdoors, you do not need much in way of beauty supplies, trust me. Hell, I think I looked in the mirror less than five times the entire week. As much as I would have liked to wear a little mascara or bronzer, you just simply don’t need it. Plus, you’re beautiful already! Here are my travel go-tos: moisturizer, sunscreen, chapstick, eye drops, eye cream, antibacterial wipes and face cleansing wipes.

Try your best to eat as cleanly as possible. Traveling is hard. Finding healthy food options while on the road is even harder. Gas stations and convenient stores are high-sugar, high-sodium, and high-fat traps — we have all fallen in them once or twice. (Or continually. But that’s ok — we can all be better!) Before your next trip, try concocting an easily packable snack, like this one. Opt for fruits and veggies when they are available and reach for a pack of almonds over chips.

Relax, man. You’re adventuring for goodness’ sake, so have fun! If you remain present in your surroundings and give in to the road, traveling can yield amazing insight and views! Take deep breaths when things get a little rough and stay thankful for the opportunity to see the sights!

Wonderful tips! I would add to make sure you’re eating enough as well! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve skipped meals while on a trip or on the road. You just forget and get caught up in the moment, or sometimes you can’t even find anything to eat. Staying healthy on a trip is tough, but not impossible. :)